2025 Results and 2026 Priorities: Key Takeaways from the Energy Club Discussion

The end of the year is traditionally a moment to pause and reflect. But in the context of a full-scale war, taking stock is not a formality — it is a tool for survival and strategic planning. With this understanding, Energy Club brought together representatives of energy associations, businesses, and experts to openly discuss what 2025 meant for Ukraine’s energy sector and what challenges and priorities lie ahead in 2026.

The discussion focused on the impact of war on energy markets, the development of distributed generation and energy storage, regulatory barriers, European integration, and coordination between business, associations, and the state. A key role in shaping the discussion was played by members of the Board of Global 100 RE Ukraine, who helped frame both the strategic vision and the practical challenges facing the sector.

2025: A Year of Resilience, Adaptation, and the End of Illusions

One of the central voices of the discussion was Oleksandr Dombrovskyi, Member of the Board of Global 100 RE Ukraine. He described 2025 as a turning point: Ukraine has endured — and its energy system has endured with it, despite massive destruction, changing attack tactics, and constant pressure on generation and grids.

According to him, 2025 marked the end of illusions and the beginning of real adaptation. Solar power, energy storage systems, cogeneration, and distributed generation have moved beyond being “promising ideas” and have become practical tools for sustaining the economy and communities. Dombrovskyi emphasized that Ukraine’s experience of rapidly rebuilding and restructuring its energy sector under wartime conditions is already shaping a new philosophy of energy resilience, relevant not only for Ukraine but also for the European Union.

At the same time, he cautioned that 2026 — especially its first months — may be extremely challenging. The sector’s task is to defend, restore, and invest in new solutions simultaneously, while avoiding the repetition of past cyclical mistakes.

Distributed Generation and Energy Storage: From Theory to Systemic Practice

A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the transformation of the energy system’s logic. What only recently was described as a limitation (“electricity cannot be stored”) became practical reality in 2025.

This shift was highlighted in detail by Andrii Konechenkov, Member of the Board of Global 100 RE Ukraine and Head of the Ukrainian Wind Energy Association. He noted that 2025 became a year of a real breakthrough in energy storage systems, without which large-scale deployment of renewables and system stability are impossible.

Despite the war, wind energy is showing signs of renewed investment momentum: new capacities are being commissioned, and a substantial project pipeline is forming for the coming years. At the same time, Konechenkov clearly outlined systemic barriers that continue to slow development — most notably complex grid connection procedures, lengthy infrastructure construction, and limited flexibility of system operators.

Looking toward 2026, he stressed that without faster and more flexible grid solutions, even available investment will not translate into rapid renewable energy growth.

Solar Energy as the Backbone of the Distributed Model

The results and outlook of the solar sector were presented by Vladyslav Sokolovskyi, Member of the Board of Global 100 RE Ukraine and Head of the Ukrainian Solar Energy Association.

He noted that 2025 became one of the most dynamic years for solar energy development, with increased capacity additions across industrial projects, self-consumption systems, and households. According to Sokolovskyi, solar power has become a cornerstone of distributed generation, significantly strengthening the resilience of the energy system amid ongoing attacks and reduced centralized capacity.

He also emphasized shared sector achievements, including the extension of import duty and VAT exemptions for renewable energy and storage equipment — a result of coordinated efforts by industry associations. Among the key priorities for 2026, he highlighted the recognition of guarantees of origin for Ukrainian green electricity within the EU, which is essential for exports and full market integration.

European Integration, Regulation, and the “Homework” Ukraine Must Complete

The broader Energy Club discussion confirmed that European integration is no longer an abstract goal, but a daily operational reality. Market coupling, REMIT compliance, analytics, and transparent trading rules are now prerequisites for market survival.

At the same time, speakers openly addressed delays in implementing certain EU requirements and the associated risk of losing partner confidence. Businesses and associations stressed that Ukraine is effectively catching up on postponed reforms, and every regulatory delay worsens starting conditions for 2026.

Particular attention was given to inconsistencies between energy legislation and public procurement rules, challenges related to active consumers, grid access, and tariff predictability — all factors that shape the real investment climate, not just policy statements.

2026: A Year for Systemic Decisions and Shared Responsibility

Despite the wide range of topics discussed, participants converged on one conclusion: 2026 must be a year of systemic solutions rather than ad-hoc responses. These include:

• scaling up energy storage and system flexibility;

• accelerating integration with the European energy market;

• eliminating regulatory bottlenecks;

• expanding distributed generation as the foundation of energy resilience;

• addressing engineering skills and education as a matter of national security.

In this sense, Energy Club served not merely as a forum for exchanging views, but as a point of synchronization for the energy community, entering 2026 with a clear understanding of challenges and a strong demand for coordinated action.